Color Stamping on Dark Cardstock

Hi! There is something very striking about a colorful stamped image on a dark background. Today I share a few ways to achieve that look…

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[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

There are many ways to add colorful stamping to a dark notecard. Here are a few of my favorites.

(1.) Stamping Colored Dye Ink Over White Pigment Ink

To create a colorful image that appears to glow on a dark background, simply stamp first with white pigment ink… then again on top of it with a colored dye ink. (You could use pigment ink, too.) I did this for the trees from the WPlus9 SSS Holiday Trimmings Stamp Set. Isn’t that Simon Says Stamp Lucky green ink gorgeous on top of the Hero Arts Unicorn White? This works great with any solid image.

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For the card above, I used the Simon Says Stamp Navy Cardstock. This technique also works well on a Hero Arts Kraft notecard. (I really like using Kraft paper for holiday cards. The texture is lovely!) The sentiment “Hello, Friend” is from the adorable WPlus9 Forest Friends Stamp Set.

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(2.) Colored pencil Over White Pigment Ink

For even more impact, try adding colored pencil over a white-pigment-ink stamped image. I did this for the trees in this example. I adore this look!

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(3.) USE GEL PENS

Many gel pens work well to show color on dark cardstocks. For this card, I used a red gel pen for the ornaments. (You could do an entire image with gel pens – just stamp and trace. There are many gel pens available, but THIS is a great set.)

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(4.) Colored EMBOSSING

For really vibrant colors on dark cardstock, it is best to use colored opaque embossing powder. I used red heat embossing and a Quickie Glue Pen for the red ornaments on this card. I could have used green heat embossing for the trees for even more impact!

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On each of the card backgrounds, I stamped the Simon Says Stamp Falling Snow Background with white pigment ink… and sprayed a few mists of my Shimmer Spritz for sparkle.

And by the way… that WPlus9 SSS Holiday Trimmings Stamp Set is a limited-time-only product. If you love it as much as I do, you better hurry!

I hope you will try one of the techniques. See you soon! I have some fun things coming up.

SUPPLIES

Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated Affiliate links used at no cost to you. Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those with an asterisk. As always, this post was NOT sponsored.)


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35 thoughts on “Color Stamping on Dark Cardstock”

  1. Hey Jennifer! This was a great video and such cute cards! I love that your daughter stayed there beside you and colored in the trees… and I even loved how she “wiped” away the anti static powder on her card after watching you do it to your card!! Adorable! Thanks for the great tip about stamping on dark surfaces with white first, then color. I never knew this but will definitely give it a try! Hope you have a fantastic day! You should enter your cards into my challenge this week, it’s anything goes!
    Hugs,
    Jo
    xox
    ♥ Jo’s Scrap Shack ♥

  2. Love it!
    Thank you for all the awesome videos you make. I have learned so much from them and Kristina’s too. I’m a newbie to card making and have two questions-
    I have been wiping my clear stamps with baby wipes when done stamping-but fibers are now stuck on them. And ruining the next stamping I make with them. What is the best way to clean them and keep them fiber free?
    I want to take some of your on line classes-is there any ones that would be good to start with more than others? Thank you for your time.
    Hugs,
    Debbie Johnson

  3. Oh, Jennifer! Heartfelt thanks for all of these wonderful ideas! I really love working on dark and kraft cardstock, especially in Autumn. So happy that Lila popped in to help you! It is lovely to see you both working together side-by-side. I always look forward to your videos, Jennifer! ♡

  4. Great ideas to get the colors onto darker card stock. I can see especially when stamping over white pigment ink where a MISTI would work great for lining it all up correctly as I am partially blind and cannot always judge things as well as I used to do.

  5. Such cute cards. I love the look of dark card stock and coloring on them. Just recently started coloring on darker card stock with colored pencils and I love the effect. Very unexpected. Thanks for another fabulous video.

  6. Love the cards they turned out so awesome. I love the dark color card stock. And seeing Lila is just an added bonus. Thanks for sharing your time and talent with us Jennifer. I appreciate and enjoy it.

  7. Beautiful and simple cards……I’ll have to try using white ink on dark color cardstock
    thanks for the tip…..

  8. Jennifer I love all the options for dark backgrounds!! I love how Lila just took over. First I saw her finger touching your pencil and I knew it was over as far as you doing the coloring alone!!! She is so adorable and I love seeing her grow!!! Thank you, as always for a wonderful video!
    Tammy

  9. This technique is so great! Learned it once from you and now often using it. I just love dark cardstock.
    Your cards are amazing, and Lila creation is almost as good as your are. She’s very talented.

  10. I need to make some more Christmas cards…thinking I should pull out some of my dark card stock( that hardly gets used ) and see what I can do. As always, thanks for the great techniques and ideas. Lila is definitely following along in her Mommy’s footsteps. So cute and so much fun for you! 🙂

  11. Some of the stuff you did is amazing! I am going to save this and check out the video. Its kind of late right now and I need to go to bed. No videos for me tonight. I didn’t know you could do some of the stuff you did. Thanks for the inspiration and for letting us see your beautiful cards.

  12. Love the trees on the dark background – thanks for all the tips! I ordered this stamp set (still so bummed that the chrysanthemum sold out before I could get it!) and can’t wait to use it.

  13. What great cards! Thank you again for sharing such wonderful techniques and inspiration! I learn so much from you!

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